Spider-Man 2
Danny Elfman
" he spins his web smoother, he flies better, it's all more reliable in the end "Written by Thomas Glorieux - Review of the regular release
Spider-Man was a solid movie that did good things with its story, and its score was equally solid with some amazing highlights worth remembering. However, the difficult material didn't make me look forward to the sequel very much. And yet what happened? The movie turned out to be a better clone of the first, with the same solid acting but with more character depth added to the already amazing special effects. The music during it sounded nice too, but I couldn't make up what the action music sounded like. And just that action is what made the first a rather difficult experience. Luckily, Elfman's action music is much more cohesive here. Don't take this as Elfman being now simple because that never will be the case, but it's more streamlined if you compare it with Spider-Man.
Of course reoccurring themes are a must because who can forget the main Peter Parker / Spider-Man theme? And so it returns practically the same in "Spider-Man 2 Main Title". The only difference lies in the fact the Doc Ock theme is added in the middle, plus some bells and electronic wooshes and especially more choir. There was criticism that it wasn't loud and powerful enough for many fans in the first, which was a stupid criticism anyway. But now Elfman added the oomph to the test and naturally, no one's complaining anymore.
"M.J.'s New Life / Spidus Interruptus" has several things returning to greet us, namely the soft theme for Mary Jane, followed by the great choral version of the main theme, followed by an orchestral blowout. This didn't happen until the end in Spider-Man, so already things are improving. The only hard to digest track is "Doc Ock is Born". Trademark Elfman in the end with a hectic action sound, and here Doc Ock's theme comes to life for real in the film.
What I also like about the album is the more relaxed tracks in between the action material. For instance "A Phone Call / The Wrong Kiss / Peter's Birthday" gives us a soothing version of the main and MJ's theme, and then it goes to the excellent action track "The Bank / Saving May" (containing both superhero themes battling against each other). The mix after that shows us this combination again, namely in "The Mugging / Peter's Turmoil" and "Doc Ock's Machine".
Sadly the most anticipated track is different from the version used in the film. You may or may not know but Christopher Young re scored the famous train music, because Elfman's version didn't seem to work. Either way "Train / Appreciation" does work, and really good too. It basically has what I want from Danny Elfman. Electronic pounds, choir, heroic versions of the theme, the Doc Ock theme fighting musically with the Spidy theme, a choral wash around 2.40 and the Spidy theme that's put to a halt, literally when the train slows down. This all leads to a soft choral version of the main theme for the appreciative citizens who carry Spider-Man to safety. Whatever it is in the film, on disc it kicks Spidy ass.
I also remembered hearing an amazing choral moment, and I don't think "Armageddon / A Really Big Web!' fully covers it. The introduction of The Goblin (for part 3) is stated in "The Goblin Returns". And so everything explodes with massive choir like the first one in "At Long Last, Love".
Altogether, I enjoyed listening to Spider-Man 2 so much more, because it doesn't carry that non structured typical Elfman tone to the degree that it hurts the listening experience. Here all the trademarks are accounted for, but in a more cohesive manner that even non Elfman fans can enjoy it. Spider-Man 2, like its film is much more appreciative and therefore I find it sad that both the movie and score didn't see eye to eye in Spider-Man 3.
Tracklisting
1. Spider-Man 2 Main Title (3.21) Excellent track
2. M.J.'s New Life / Spidus Interruptus (2.31)
3. Doc Ock Is Born (2.23)
4. Angry Arms / Rebuilding (2.51)
5. A Phone Call / The Wrong Kiss / Peter's Birthday (2.06)
6. The Bank / Saving May (4.27) Excellent track
7. The Mugging / Peter's Turmoil (3.21)
8. Doc Ock's Machine (1.42)
9. He's Back (1.50)
10. Train / Appreciation (6.16) Excellent track
11. Aunt May Packs (2.51)
12. Armageddon / A Really Big Web! (6.27)
13. The Goblin Returns (1.36)
14. At Long Last, Love (2.59) Excellent track
15. Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head: B.J. Thomas (3.14)
Total Length: 48.04
Of course reoccurring themes are a must because who can forget the main Peter Parker / Spider-Man theme? And so it returns practically the same in "Spider-Man 2 Main Title". The only difference lies in the fact the Doc Ock theme is added in the middle, plus some bells and electronic wooshes and especially more choir. There was criticism that it wasn't loud and powerful enough for many fans in the first, which was a stupid criticism anyway. But now Elfman added the oomph to the test and naturally, no one's complaining anymore.
"M.J.'s New Life / Spidus Interruptus" has several things returning to greet us, namely the soft theme for Mary Jane, followed by the great choral version of the main theme, followed by an orchestral blowout. This didn't happen until the end in Spider-Man, so already things are improving. The only hard to digest track is "Doc Ock is Born". Trademark Elfman in the end with a hectic action sound, and here Doc Ock's theme comes to life for real in the film.
What I also like about the album is the more relaxed tracks in between the action material. For instance "A Phone Call / The Wrong Kiss / Peter's Birthday" gives us a soothing version of the main and MJ's theme, and then it goes to the excellent action track "The Bank / Saving May" (containing both superhero themes battling against each other). The mix after that shows us this combination again, namely in "The Mugging / Peter's Turmoil" and "Doc Ock's Machine".
Sadly the most anticipated track is different from the version used in the film. You may or may not know but Christopher Young re scored the famous train music, because Elfman's version didn't seem to work. Either way "Train / Appreciation" does work, and really good too. It basically has what I want from Danny Elfman. Electronic pounds, choir, heroic versions of the theme, the Doc Ock theme fighting musically with the Spidy theme, a choral wash around 2.40 and the Spidy theme that's put to a halt, literally when the train slows down. This all leads to a soft choral version of the main theme for the appreciative citizens who carry Spider-Man to safety. Whatever it is in the film, on disc it kicks Spidy ass.
I also remembered hearing an amazing choral moment, and I don't think "Armageddon / A Really Big Web!' fully covers it. The introduction of The Goblin (for part 3) is stated in "The Goblin Returns". And so everything explodes with massive choir like the first one in "At Long Last, Love".
Altogether, I enjoyed listening to Spider-Man 2 so much more, because it doesn't carry that non structured typical Elfman tone to the degree that it hurts the listening experience. Here all the trademarks are accounted for, but in a more cohesive manner that even non Elfman fans can enjoy it. Spider-Man 2, like its film is much more appreciative and therefore I find it sad that both the movie and score didn't see eye to eye in Spider-Man 3.
Tracklisting
1. Spider-Man 2 Main Title (3.21) Excellent track
2. M.J.'s New Life / Spidus Interruptus (2.31)
3. Doc Ock Is Born (2.23)
4. Angry Arms / Rebuilding (2.51)
5. A Phone Call / The Wrong Kiss / Peter's Birthday (2.06)
6. The Bank / Saving May (4.27) Excellent track
7. The Mugging / Peter's Turmoil (3.21)
8. Doc Ock's Machine (1.42)
9. He's Back (1.50)
10. Train / Appreciation (6.16) Excellent track
11. Aunt May Packs (2.51)
12. Armageddon / A Really Big Web! (6.27)
13. The Goblin Returns (1.36)
14. At Long Last, Love (2.59) Excellent track
15. Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head: B.J. Thomas (3.14)
Total Length: 48.04